Urban Sprawl

LEGO, custom spray-painted tiles on MDF panel

41.75 x 81.75 inches (framed)

Urban Sprawl is a large-scale portrait of Sitting Bull that I created using LEGO tiles, many of which I custom-colored with spray paint to achieve the right tonal range. The piece is mounted on a 40 x 80-inch MDF panel and framed to 41.75 x 81.75 inches.

This work was inspired by my deep respect for Native American culture, shaped by living in Arizona for over 25 years — a state that’s home to 22 federally recognized tribes. The portrait is based on an AI-generated image to avoid using copyrighted photography, but the spirit of Sitting Bull is unmistakable.

I named the piece Urban Sprawl as a commentary on the misuse of Native land and the relentless push for soulless development across the Southwest. Native Americans didn’t even have a concept of “owning” land, so the idea that we made treaties — and then broke them — strikes me as one of the greatest forms of dishonor.

At first glance, the mosaic appears purely black and white, reflecting how the dominant culture often views land: in rigid, transactional terms. But if you step closer or shift your perspective, you’ll see hints of color woven throughout — a reminder that depth, culture, and meaning are always present if you’re willing to look for them.